Press release

Global Recycling Day & International Day of Forests: the Blue Angel shows how recycling protects forests – every day in your shopping basket

09. March 2026

Dessau – To mark Global Recycling Day on 18th March and in the run-up to the International Day of Forests on 21st March, the Blue Angel is focusing on recycled products and reusable alternatives. This reduces waste, closes material cycles and conserves resources. The Blue Angel highlights the environmental benefits of sustainable products and helps consumers make conscious purchase decisions in everyday life.

Cycle of sustainability and nature © Blue Angel (AI-generated)

Three product groups demonstrate particularly clearly how the circular economy works in everyday life:

Recycled paper (DE-UZ 14a/b):

Recycled paper with the Blue Angel is guaranteed to consist of 100% recovered paper. In contrast to the production process using fresh fibres, this saves significant amounts of energy and water, reduces pressure on forests and boosts a functioning circular economy. From exercise books to toilet paper, a wide variety of products are made from recycled paper.

Products made from recycled plastics (DE-UZ 30a):

Whether bin bags, office supplies or other everyday products: recycled plastic conserves raw materials and reduces the amount of waste. The Blue Angel indicates products with a high recycled content.

Reusable systems for food and beverages (DE-UZ 210):

Reusable instead of single-use reduces waste and conserves resources. The Blue Angel certifies reusable systems whose cups and containers are durable (at least 500 cleaning cycles) and recyclable, avoid problematic materials and must be taken back and recycled at the end of their useful life.

From knowledge to action: the ecolabel as a reliable compass

Janine Braumann from the German Environment Agency (UBA), the ecolabel’s office, explains: “The circular economy begins in everyday life – when taking products off the shelf. Anyone who uses recycled paper made from 100% recovered paper, products made from recycled plastic, or consistently chooses reusable options will significantly reduce waste and the consumption of raw materials. The Blue Angel offers consumers an independent, credible guide here and makes environmental benefits immediately apparent at a glance.”

About Global Recycling Day and the International Day of Forests

Global Recycling Day (18th March) raises awareness around the world of how important recycling is in protecting the climate and resources. The International Day of Forests (21st March) focuses on the importance of forests for biodiversity, the water balance and climate protection. Together, these two campaign days show that resource conservation also means keeping existing materials within the cycle – so that fewer new materials need to be extracted from nature.

Information about the Blue Angel ecolabel

The Blue Angel has been the ecolabel of the German federal government and the guide for sustainable purchasing for more than 45 years. It is an independent and credible label that sets stringent standards for environmentally friendly products and services. The Blue Angel guarantees that the products or services it certifies meet high standards when it comes to environmental, health and performance characteristics. The whole life cycle of the product or service is always taken into account in the assessment process. Criteria are developed for each product group and must be complied with by those products and services holding the Blue Angel. In order to reflect any technological developments, the German Environment Agency checks the criteria every three to four years. This ensures that companies are required to make their products even more environmentally friendly over time. More information and certified products can be found at: www.blauer-engel.de or on our social media accounts on Instagram (@blauerengel_umweltzeichen), Facebook and LinkedIn.